I initially wrote this submit in 2013 and it was solely two paragraphs lengthy. On the time, the pioneering ARTAS® hair transplant robotic from Restoration Robotics was all the craze. It was FDA-approved for robotic hair transplant surgical procedure in 2011.
I forgot about this topic lately until I learn a February 2023 article on “lunchtime” robotic hair transplants. Notice that Restoration Robotics undertook an IPO in 2017 (ticker “HAIR”), however then merged with Venus Idea (ticker “VERO”) in 2019. Venus Idea additionally makes the Neograft® hair restoration system.
ARTAS Graft Excision and Implantation
Once I first coated this topic in 2013, I turned satisfied that automation was the way forward for follicular unit extraction (FUE) hair transplant procedures. A minimum of when it got here to AI- and algorithm-driven quicker, extra exact and better high quality graft excisions and extractions. And never prone to human technician error from fatigue or inadequate coaching.
Furthermore, I wrote one other submit in 2014 in regards to the future potential for ARTAS recipient web site creation and even implantation. This was additional confirmed by the extremely regarded Dr. Robert Bernstein’s help and testing of this beforehand unimaginable idea. In 2018, he launched robotic implantation of follicular unit grafts on the ISHRS twenty sixth World Congress. Key quote:
“With implantation, three of the 4 elements of a hair transplant (excision, web site creation, implantation) have now been efficiently automated. Solely graft extraction is left because the remaining step.”
Notice that the terminology of “excision” versus “extraction” is complicated for me, particularly since I not often cowl hair transplants on this weblog, Having mentioned that, even the professionals have points in deciding on whether or not the “E” in FUE stands for extraction or excision.
Dr. Bernstein is at the moment utilizing the newest ARTAS® iX Robotic System per his web site. On there, he states that this robotic automates two key steps in an FUE hair transplant: follicular unit graft harvesting and recipient web site creation.
Robotic Hair Transplant Reputation in 2023
I additionally wrote one other ARTAS associated submit in 2014 when the corporate made its a hundredth robotic system sale. Fairly a powerful accomplishment when contemplating that the ISHRS has round 1,000 surgeon members from all over the world. And the extra selective IAHRS at the moment has simply 60 members. I might guess that nicely over 200 hair restoration surgeons all over the world should be utilizing ARTAS by now?
On Venus Idea’s YouTube channel, that they had fairly a number of ARTAS associated movies in 2021, however none in 2022. In distinction, their Twitter and Instagram accounts each coated ARTAS hair transplants in 2023.
Robotic hair transplantation know-how nonetheless has some points that forestall its widespread adoption. Among the choices on easy methods to use ARTAS should be made by the surgeon on a real-time foundation.
Sufferers should shave their heads earlier than the donor space hair follicles are harvested. That is required as a way to overcome issues in these with curly hair. For African hair sorts that curl beneath the pores and skin floor, a barely bigger punch must be used. When you have gray, white or blonde scalp hair, it should be dyed for the robotic to visualise it appropriately.
ARTAS graft extraction can be restricted to the clearly outlined everlasting donor zone. In distinction, human surgeons can develop the donor space barely when appropriate. They’ll even use physique hair from the nape of the neck, beard, chest and different areas.
Furthermore, many sufferers refuse to be handled by a robotic system, and lots of surgeons nonetheless stay skeptical about its advantages. And a few simply want not spending a big sum of money on such know-how.
So in abstract, people (each surgeons and technicians) are nonetheless essential throughout a hair transplant process in 2023. In truth, skilled hair transplant technicians are in very brief provide and might make a fantastic dwelling on this business.
Price
Sadly, the arrival of robotics and automation within the hair restoration area doesn’t appear to have diminished the value of a hair transplant. An ARTAS hair transplant will nonetheless price most individuals not less than $10,000 within the US. Many sufferers would most likely change into converts if the worth of a robotic hair transplant was half that of an everyday FUE hair transplant.
